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« Grey's Anatomy
April 19, 2007: Time After Time
After a four-week wait, I was totally psyched to finally see a new episode of Grey's. I woke up in such a good mood Thursday morning since I was finally able to put away my Pepto-Bismol the night before (like a lot of you, I’ve been suffering from a bad case of Sanjayarrhea). So I was not disappointed in this "past coming back to haunt you"-focused episode — especially how they handled the Izzie/George awkwardness (I'll get to that recent past situation in a bit). First things first: Welcome back to the show, Chandra Wilson! How nice for Bailey to come out of the background at last. Chandra is not an actress that should be wasted and utilized in only a few throwaway scenes as she'd been lately. I adored seeing Bailey be so comforting to and protective of Izzie.
But let's get to Izzie. What a way for her to get her mind off the shunning George — the parents who adopted the child Izzie gave up when she was 16 tracked her down. I thought Izzie handled the shocking news that her birth daughter, now 11, had leukemia and needed a bone-marrow transplant (from Izzie) quite well. Katherine Heigl has yet another Emmy submission episode, especially the scene when Izzie confided in Bailey, telling her she figured she'd meet her daughter some day — just not this soon and not under such unfortunate circumstances. Luckily, Izzie was able to be the transplant provider for Hannah. Nice look-alike casting, by the way — that was Liv Hutchings — hope we see more of her, perhaps when Hannah decides to finally meet Izzie, the person who initially gave her life, and then saved it 11 years later.
Speaking of which, as usual, the casting department should be commended for the guest roles. The actress I really thought stood out was Suzanne Cryer (from Two Guys, a Girl and a Pizza Place) as Hannah's adoptive mother Caroline. Desperate Housewives fans may remember Suzanne recently as Lynn (the best friend of Ian's late wife Jane) who was so bitchy to Susan at Jane's funeral. Shows you how versatile an actress she is. Her crying scene with Izzie that made Izzie cry also made me, the admitted wimp, cry as well (Suzanne takes her last name quite seriously). Tim Hopper was also effective as Dustin, Hannah's adoptive father.
I felt so horrible for our dear Jane Doe/Ava/not Shannon, who's looking more and more like the beautiful Elizabeth Reaser. Too bad that couple, played by Dee Wallace and Randy Thompson, ended up not being her real parents and that she had to yell at Alex. When Dee's character told Alex, "She's not my daughter," I immediately thought two things: 1) "Um, duh... couldn't you tell by her voice when you first heard her speak?" and 2) Of course that's not your daughter. Gertie's your daughter.
The two other big guest stars had the opposite effect on me. One I enjoyed and hope we continue to see more of: Mare Winningham as Susan, Meredith's stepmother. I like how Meredith went from being totally annoyed with Susan to almost thanking her for being so overprotective. Then there's the guest star whose character has become so unlikable that I can do without him: Roger Rees as Marlow. He did, however, bring out a welcome, different and rather unrecognizable side of Cristina: the Stepford Wife side. Yes, I know she's not a wife yet, but she was very Stepford-like and that was hilarious. I loved Meredith's reaction to Cristina's fancily painted fingernails: "You've got stuff on your hands" and calling them "pretty, pretty fingers." Anything to scare away Marlow (looks as though it worked — he doesn't dig the "new" Cristina). Burke's reaction was also funny (it's nice to see him smile for a change).
Meanwhile, Derek was not havin' it after the Chief told him exactly why he doesn't think he'd be the proper Chief replacement — Ellis asked him to look over Meredith, and he doesn't want Meredith to have to suffer like Adele did. This should complicate matters — Der not answering Mer's cell-phone calls is not a good sign.
The couple in much worse shape is George and Callie. You knew Callie would be P.O.'ed after she caught George in the lie. What was Meredith thinking, by the way, when she told Callie: "Oh, he's with Izzie." Oh, Mer. Also in the foot-in-mouth category was George to Izzie comparing their sex with his sex with Meredith. Izzie countered that their "sex was not tragic." Her best admission was saying she'd get over it but "I won't make it if I can't be your friend." T.R. Knight and Katherine had another one of those brilliant George and Izzie moments where they didn't have to say a word, just look at each other (when George walked back into the hospital room after he said he'd get an orderly to wheel her out).
Besides the temporarily "new" Cristina, the other comic relief in the episode was Mark Sloan trying to be the Chief's "wing man," trying to get him laid just so the Chief will make him the new Chief. Nice try. Glad Addison stepped in at the end and had the Chief practice his dance moves with her. Back to Cristina, or rather Sandra Oh, who had perhaps the funniest delivery of a line. To last week's TV Guide cover boy Justin Chambers’ Alex: "Hey, pouty-head. Are you so sad because no-face-girl's family's taking her home?" Cristina's explanation to Marlow as to why she's so different now was so un-her: "I've learned that sometimes you have to think of other people." Even though it looks as though Marlow is gone for now, I hope we see this softer side of Cristina every now and then.
We'll be treated to nonstop new Thursday episodes from now until the end of the season, so this four-week wait was worth it.
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Apr 20, 2007 7:55 AM
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Another good episode but not a great one. I feel like the Izzy child story is too early in the series but whatever. i really hate whats happening to Callie. I really love her and to see her just used as a punching bag sucks. I hope she can come back from this and still be a character on this show. Good to see Bailey back in the fore, I've missed her. I'm sick of Alex and No-Face Girl. I'm loving Meredith's Stepmother as a character but fear what may happen to her as a result of Ausiello's spoilers. Finally, I'm guessing Kate Walsh has been MIA because they are filming her pilot/spin-off episode, I must say her absence from the preceedings is felt but her absence is making me look forward to her own show. Addison is one of the strongest characters on this show so taking her out looks like it will hurt the mothership but it should give her more time to shine.
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Apr 20, 2007 8:14 AM
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Lovely episode. I pretty much live for George and Izzie moments, romantic or otherwise. Knowing that the not-tragic sex won't ruin that makes me very happy. Plus, poor Izzie this year! First Denny, then George "abandoning" her, then sleeping with the married George, then her long-lost daughter showing up with leukemia? Geez! Grey's Season 3 sounds to me like the "Let's Torture Izzie" show. But it gives Katie Heigl moments to shine, so I'm cool with that.
My favorites this episode though were Bailey, Cristina, and Addison. Great to see Bailey back in her element as 2 parts Nazi, 1 part mother (or 1 part Nazi, 2 parts mother?). And, I adored Cristina for standing up for Burke and "playing the game" to get Marlowe to leave. He really was getting annoying and I'm proud of Cristina for holding her head high when he snidely commented that she had changed.
And finally, it felt like something was missing this episode, but I couldn't tell what it was... until she showed up again at the very end. Addison! I absolutely adored her dancing with the Chief - what a sweet moment. I'm going to miss her when she makes her way to the new show, but I'll be damned if I don't watch that too.
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Apr 20, 2007 8:15 AM
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This episode was absolutely unbearable to watch. The only saving graces were Alex and the 2 second glimpses of Addison we were able to see. (Was she off filming the spinoff? I certainly hope so. I'm counting the days until I don't have to watch this awful show just to see Kate Walsh.)
Derek was a whiny loser, Izzie and George are just uncomfortable to watch, Sara Ramirez is severely underused... I used to enjoy this show but now it's become one giant cliche after another. Please, just spin Addison off already. Please.
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Apr 20, 2007 8:53 AM
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Did you notice Cristina liked the color on her middle finger the best? Classic.
It is kind of like one of the writers has a crush on Katherine Hiegl and wants her to win and Emmy. I love her scenes with TR.
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Apr 20, 2007 8:54 AM
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It's dumb that nobody even thought to do a dna test on the no-face girl to prove that she was or wasn't those people's daughter.
That child is going to want to meet Izzie one day. She's lucky, some people spend a lifetime looking for their birth parents and even luckier this one saved her life (possibly)
And what about Addison and the Chief? I think they make a lovely couple.
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Apr 20, 2007 8:55 AM
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Of course that's not your daughter. Gertie's your daughter.
Too funny Dave. And earlier in the season Ava did kind of resemble ET.
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Apr 20, 2007 8:59 AM
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Y'know, I feel like whiny season two Meredith turned people off of not only the character, but the actress as well. Ellen Pompeo, though, is so insanely good in this show - I love the way she delivers every line, and the facial expressions, and even the consistency of "voice" that the writers give her (phrases like "dark and twisty", "dead mom would be proud", "pretty pretty fingers"). She doesn't get the flashy scenes that Izzie gets, but I have found her performance this season to be pretty amazing, and her character to be very finely nuanced (giving up even though she "knows how to swim"). I think Katharine Heigl has been wonderful all year, but Meredith has quietly become the star of her own show again.
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Apr 20, 2007 9:04 AM
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Spoilerish PhoenixFactor, I definately agree with you on the fact that I'm worried about the upcoming tragedy and to me it's pretty obvious who it is going to be, although I think it is kind of stupid because I think Susan being a part of Mer's life has been kind of refreshing and could be good long term. Speaking of torturing people, I've never been a die-hard Mer fan, but this would be even more torture for her.
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Apr 20, 2007 9:06 AM
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It's dumb that nobody even thought to do a dna test on the no-face girl to prove that she was or wasn't those people's daughter.
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DNA testing takes more time than the timeframe of the episode. I know a lot of shows try to make it seem faster but the technology just isn't there yet.
Great episode! The Chief having Sloane has his wingman (who freely admits he is doing it for all the wrong reasons). George and Izzie showing no matter what, they have a deep connection. The characters know each other so well & we have learned enough about them that they don't have to speak and yet we know what they are communicating to one another. That is great chemistry. Meredith learning the difference between having a mom in her life and not just a mother. Izzie learning what it means to be a mom and not just a biological mother. Bailly being the tough as nails mom. Very well done.
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Apr 20, 2007 9:07 AM
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Whenever I see the actress that played Hannah's adoptive mother, I always think of her as the Yada Yada woman from Seinfeld.
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Apr 20, 2007 9:28 AM
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I don't know if the wait was worth it. Im tired if Izzie being so freakin tragic. Dennys Dead...Daughter doesn't want her....I was more interested in Alexs reaction to Ava freaking. And the Cristina Marlowe thing was awesome cause when Burke kissed Cristina and said it will be nice to have the old one back, THe look she gave was very telling.
The derek thing is gonna piss me off. Six weeks ago he was all about how she nearly died and it nearly killed him. Now Im supossed to believe that being chief is more important? Id kick his tail to the curb for that.
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Apr 20, 2007 9:44 AM
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Why not change the name of the show to Izzie Anatomy. I think the show has become way to Izzie centered.
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Apr 20, 2007 10:02 AM
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Derek not getting the Chief's job seems kind of forced to me, like the writers are trying too hard to come up with a way to cause problems between Meredith and Derek. And too quick of a turnaround for Meredith when it comes to Susan, I don't know if Alex's words would have sunk that deep that fast, but I am glad to see it nonetheless. Overall a very good episode - as always!
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Apr 20, 2007 10:06 AM
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Of course that's not your daughter. Gertie's your daughter.
LOL! Dave, that was a great line 
Refreshing to see another side to Christina.
Wow, Izzie's daughter does look a lot like her. Excellent casting.
I agree that Callie is getting the short end of the stick - I hate seeing her so tortured. She's awesome!
Being a bone marrow donor is not a 1 day thing. The testing alone takes time and then the donor needs to be prepped for a few days. It's also pretty painful and draining. I know this is a TV show but there was too much to this story that was unrealistic.
Wow! Elizabeth Reaser was amazing! You could feel her desperation as she yelled at Alex. She wants her identity! She doesn't want a made up name and new face. I hope she gets a nice happy ending.
Good riddance to Marlow.
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Apr 20, 2007 10:40 AM
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